Rattlesnakes live throughout much of the Americas, ranging from southern Canada to central Argentina. They are especially common and diverse in the deserts and arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico
. Typical habitats where rattlesnakes are found include:
- Deserts and arid regions, particularly in the American Southwest and Mexico
- Forests, including pine-oak forests and hardwood or pine forests
- Grasslands, scrub brush, and prairies
- Swamps and river floodplains
- Rocky areas, hillsides, and mountainous terrain
- Urban and rural areas, including parks, golf courses, riverbanks, and brushy areas near homes
Rattlesnakes prefer open, rocky areas that provide cover and basking spots, but they are adaptable and can live in a wide variety of environments, from coastal plains to high elevations (up to about 7,000 feet)
. In the United States, rattlesnakes are found in almost every state except Maine, with species like the timber rattlesnake ranging as far north as New York and Minnesota, and even into southern Canada historically
. In summary, rattlesnakes inhabit diverse environments across North, Central, and South America, thriving especially in warm, rocky, and arid habitats but also found in forests, swamps, and even some urban areas.
